Floribunda Rose Plant Named &#39;GRAnib&#39;

ABSTRACT

‘GRAnib’ is a new and distinct  floribunda  type  Rosa  hybrid cultivar which is characterized by the combination of an upright and bushy growth habit, nearly continuous flowering, double flowers that exhibit a strong dark red with velvet overlay tending black, flowers with a strong rose fragrance, and the stability of these characteristics from generation to generation. The new cultivar is generally suited to landscape applications.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/626,773 filed Feb. 6, 2018, which is herein incorporated by reference.

Latin name of genus and species: The Latin name of the genus and species of the novel variety disclosed herein is Rosa hybrid.

Variety denomination: The inventive variety of Rosa hybrid disclosed herein has been given the variety denomination ‘GRAnib’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: ‘GRAnib’ is a seedling selection which resulted from the controlled cross-pollination of an unnamed Rosa hybrid female breeding line (not patented) and an unnamed Rosa hybrid male breeding line (not patented). Both parents, developed by the same inventor and never commercially released, exhibited traits deemed commercially significant and desirable.

After many years of trialing, the female parent was confirmed to possess a combination of desirable traits such as excellent disease resistance, a bushy plant growing to 1.2 m tall and wide, and flowers with strong perfume. The male parent was selected for use in breeding after trialing confirmed the presence of a unique, modern flower color. During the summer of 2014, the female parent was emasculated and was manually pollinated with pollen from the male parent. In autumn of 2015, seed was collected from hips produced by the female parent and a number of seedlings were grown to a mature size, including the claimed plant. These progeny were further evaluated for desirable traits such as black spot disease resistance and original flower color, and in March of 2016 the claimed plant was first observed. In January of 2017, after further evaluation for desirable traits, the claimed plant was deemed to be garden-worthy and suited to widespread cultivation. It was given the denomination ‘GRAnib’.

Asexual Reproduction: Asexual propagation of ‘GRAnib’, by way of softwood stem cuttings, was first performed in May of 2016 at the inventor's nursery in Highfields, Australia. Through more than twelve subsequent generations, the unique features of this cultivar have proven to be stable and true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics have been repeatedly observed and represent the distinguishing characteristics of the new Rosa cultivar ‘GRAnib’. These traits, in combination, distinguish ‘GRAnib’ as a new and distinct cultivar.

-   -   1. Rosa hybrid ‘GRAnib’ exhibits an upright growth habit; and     -   2. Rosa hybrid ‘GRAnib’ flowers exhibit a strong dark red with         velvet overlay tending black; and     -   3. Rosa hybrid ‘GRAnib’ exhibits nearly continuous flowering;         and     -   4. Rosa hybrid ‘GRAnib’ exhibits a double flower type; and     -   5. Rosa hybrid ‘GRAnib’ exhibits flowers with a strong rose         fragrance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The figure illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the typical flower of ‘GRAnib’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following observations and measurements, made in January of 2018, describe averages of two own-root specimens of one year old ‘GRAnib’ plants. The plants were grown outdoors in a 20 cm pots in full sunlight, at the inventor's nursery in Highfields, Australia. No shade or supplemental light was provided. Temperatures ranged from approximately 17 to 35 degrees Celsius during the day and 7 to 18 degrees Celsius at night. Standard practices for irrigation, fertilizer and pest control were applied at appropriate times during the growing season. The plants were pruned three times during the growing season using accepted techniques for rose pruning.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristics will vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘GRAnib’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Where dimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations or averages set forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety may differ from the descriptions set forth herein with variations in environmental, climatic and cultural conditions. Color notations are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The Royal Horticultural Society, London, 2007 Fifth Edition except where common terms of color are used.

A botanical description of ‘GRAnib’ and comparisons with the parents and the most similar commercial cultivar of Rosa hybrid are provided below.

-   General plant description:     -   -   Growth habit.—Upright.         -   Growth rate.—Approximately 8 months to reach 60 cm.         -   Dimensions.—50 cm tall and 30 cm wide.         -   Environmental tolerance.—Very good heat tolerance; cold             hardiness is unknown.         -   Disease resistance.—Excellent resistance to powdery mildew             (Sphaerotheca pannosa) and good resistance blackspot             (Diplocarpon rosae).         -   Propagation.—Technique — Softwood stem cuttings. Time to             initiate roots — About 13 days at approximately 21 degrees             Celsius at root zone and 18 degrees Celsius ambient             temperature. Time to produce a rooted cutting — About 25             days at approximately 21 degrees Celsius at root zone and 18             degrees Celsius ambient temperature. -   Root system: White fibrous roots with many root hairs extending from     lesser roots in a featherlike arrangement. -   Branches:     -   -   Branching habit.—Irregular branching from mature branches,             breaking first from the uppermost buds near the apex of each             shoot.         -   Quantity.—Numerous.         -   General dimensions.—Approximately 40 cm long; 0.5 cm in             diameter near the base and tapering to 0.2 cm.         -   Immature branches.—Diameter — Approximately 0.3 cm. Texture             and pubescence — Smooth with prickles; glabrous. Color —             Near RHS 143D with anthocyanin present. Prickles — Density —             Sparse. Color — Near RHS 176D. Shape — Convex. Texture —             Smooth.         -   Mature branches.—Diameter — Approximately 0.4 cm, after 6             months. Texture and pubescence — Smooth with prickles;             glabrous. Color — Near RHS 145B. Prickles — Density — Sparse             to moderate. Color — Near RHS 171B. Shape — Convex. Texture             — Smooth. -   Leaves:     -   -   Arrangement—Alternate imparipinnate compound leaves.         -   Quantity.—Approximately 5 per mature branch.         -   Attachment.—Petiolate.         -   Leaf internode length.—4 cm.         -   Dimensions.—Approximately 12 cm long and 8 cm wide.         -   Petiole.—Dimensions — 2.0 cm long and 0.1 cm wide. Color —             Near RHS 143B and margined RHS 143A. Texture and pubescence             — Smooth and glabrous. Prickles — Present. Stipitate glands             — not present.         -   Stipule.—Dimensions — 1.0 cm long and 0.5 cm wide. Color —             Near RHS 144C. Texture and pubescence — Smooth; glabrous.             Margins — Ciliate. Apex — Apiculate. Base — Winged. Prickles             — Not present. Stipitate glands — Not present.         -   Rachis.—Dimensions — 2.5 cm long and 0.1 cm wide. Color —             Near RHS N144D. Prickles — present. Stipitate glands — Not             present.         -   Leaflets.—Quantity — Seven leaflets on axillary leaves.             Dimensions — Average size of the terminal leaflet is 4 cm             long and 3.5 cm wide. Shape — Ovate. Apex — Acuminate. Base             — Ovate. Margins — Serrated. Texture, pubescence and luster,             adaxial surface — Smooth, glabrous, and matte. Texture,             pubescence and luster, abaxial surface — Smooth, glabrous,             and matte. Juvenile foliage color, adaxial surface — Near             RHS 137C, with anthocyanin intonations. Juvenile foliage             color, abaxial surface — Near RHS 138C, with anthocyanin             intonations. Mature foliage color, adaxial surface — Near             RHS 137C. Mature foliage color, abaxial surface — Near RHS             138D. Venation — Pinnate. Venation color, adaxial surface —             Near RHS 136A, with midrib RHS 137D. Venation color, abaxial             surface — Near RHS 135C, with midrib RHS 143C. Petiolule —             Dimensions — 0.2 cm long and 0.1 cm wide. Color — Near RHS             141D with no anthocyanin intonations present. Prickles — Not             present. Texture — Smooth. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Inflorescence type.—Flowers are clustered.         -   Blooming habit.—Almost continuous from October through June             in the southern hemisphere.         -   Time to flower.—6 to 8 weeks for a new stem to mature and             flowering begins to occur once a stem matures.         -   Peduncle.—Dimensions — 3.5 cm long and 0.2 cm in diameter.             Color — Near RHS 141D, with anthocyanin present. Strength —             Rigid. Texture and pubescence — Smooth and glabrous.             Prickles — None present. -   Bud:     -   -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Size.—1.5 cm long and 1.0 cm in diameter.         -   Color.—Near RHS 145B with no anthocyanin. -   Flower:     -   -   Calyx.—General — Comprised of five polysepalous sepals.             Diameter of calyx — 0.5 cm. Sepals — Color, interior surface             — RHS 145C. Color, exterior surface — RHS 145A with             anthocyanin. Dimensions — 2.5 cm long and 0.7 cm wide. Apex             — Apiculate. Base — Flat at union with receptacle. Quantity             — Five. Pubescence — Densely puberulent. Margins — Entire.             Stipitate glands — None present.         -   Corolla.—General shape of corolla — Cupped with a tight             outer whorl. Rate of opening — 6 days from bud to anthesis.             Dimensions — Approximately 4 cm in diameter and 4 cm deep.             Fragrance — Strong rose scent. Lastingness — On the plant             for 5 days after anthesis. Persistence — Self-cleaning.             Petals — Petal count — Exhibits double flowers with             approximately 35 petals under normal conditions. Petal             arrangement — Rounded whorl at anthesis and aging to a             whorl. Dimensions — 3.1 cm long and 3.0 cm wide. Petal shape             — Obovate. Apex — Rounded. Base — Flattened, then obtuse.             Petal reflex — Slightly reflexed at apex. Petal margin —             Entire; slightly undulating. Texture — Soft. Aspect —             Formal. Petal color, upon opening — Upper surface — Near RHS             42A. Lower surface — Near RHS 45D. Petal color, at anthesis             — Upper surface — Near RHS46A. Lower surface — Near RHS 45D.             Fading — Black near RHS 79A. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Quantity — Approximately 50. Anthers — Shape —             Narrow ovate. Length — 0.1 cm. Color — Near RHS 8C. Pollen —             Many. Pollen Color — Near RHS 3A. Filaments — Color — Near             RHS 46D. Length — Approximately 0.8 cm.         -   Pistils.—Quantity — Approximately 50. Length — Approximately             1.0 cm. Stigma — Shape — Ovate. Color — Near RHS 11B. Style             — Length — Approximately 0.8 cm long. Color — Near RHS 18C.         -   Ovary.—Dimensions — 0.5 cm long and 0.3 cm wide. Color —             Near RHS 3D.         -   Receptacle.—Shape — Pitcher-shaped. Dimensions — 0.5 cm high             and 0.5 cm wide. Color — Near RHS 141D. -   Hip and seed:     -   -   Hip.—Shape — Rounded. Dimensions — 1.0 cm long and 1.0 cm             wide. Texture — Smooth. Color — Near RHS 142B.         -   Seed.—Shape — Rounded. Dimensions — 1.0 cm long and 1.0 cm             wide. Color — Near RHS 144D.

COMPARISONS WITH THE PARENTS

The new rose plant ‘GRAnib’ may be distinguished from its seed parent, an unnamed breeding line, by the following combination of characteristics:

-   -   1. The flowers of ‘GRAnib’ exhibit a strong red overlaid with         velvet tending black, whereas the flowers of the seed parent         exhibit a white tonality.     -   2. ‘GRAnib’ exhibits an upright growth habit, whereas the seed         parent exhibits an upright semi weeping growth habit.

The new rose plant ‘GRAnib’ may be distinguished from its pollen parent, an unnamed breeding line, by the following combination of characteristics:

-   -   1. The flowers of ‘GRAnib’ exhibit a strong red with velvet         overlay tending black with strong rose perfume, whereas the         parent exhibit a red general tonality and no perfume.     -   2. ‘GRAnib’ exhibits an medium upright habit with good foliage         cover, whereas the pollen parent exhibits a tall upright growth         habit with sparse foliage cover.

COMPARISONS WITH THE MOST SIMILAR VARIETY OF COMMON KNOWLEDGE

Plants of the new cultivar ‘GRAnib’ may be distinguished from the commercial variety Rosa hybrid ‘ORAdal’ (France Plant Breeders Rights grant number 11682) by the following combination of characteristics:

-   -   1. The flowers of ‘GRAnib’ strong red overlaid with velvet         tending black, whereas the flowers of ‘ORAdal’ are uniform         crimson red.     -   2. Growth of ‘GRAnib’ is upright with bushy growth and cluster         flowers, whereas “ORAdal’ is upright with solitary flowers. 

That which is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Rosa hybrid plant named ‘GRAnib’ as described and illustrated herein. 